ZTGD's Reviews
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Sworn won’t dethrone the giants of the roguelite space, but it’s a strong, enjoyable entry with a clear identity. If you love games built around progression, combat experimentation, and dark fantasy settings, this one is worth your time; especially if you have a few friends ready to dive into Camelot’s ruins with you.
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is not a flawless remake—but it’s a surprisingly heartwarming one. It enhances visuals, smooths out rough edges in control, and layers in replay value without losing the core DNA of the original.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a great return for the series. Sure, it deviates from the first two entries, but has its own appeal. This is a quality Platinum Games release, which I know is hit and miss at times. Team Ninja and Platinum is a good combo and it feels good to have the series back.
Silent Hill f is a solid entry in the series even if it bucks all the reason to be a Silent Hill game. I still feel like this would have been a great original title. The combat is its biggest weakness and the chasm of fun between the real world and the Shrine Realm really drives that home. I am glad Silent Hill is back, but I do wish they had made the combat a bit more fun and interesting.
Death on the Nile may not be a big-budget spectacle, but it’s a well-crafted mystery with charm and ambition. If you enjoy piecing together clues, catching liars in their contradictions, and unraveling classic stories in new ways, this is a cruise worth boarding.
The game would be well served by a firm split between MyCareer and The City, with a Career mode and progression system more akin to MLB: The Show and an online multiplayer component that emphasizes parity rather than pay to win (or in most cases pay to simply be competitive). Feels like this is a pipedream based on the revenue that the series brings in, but it would definitely improve the overall experience.
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What can I say, Battlefield 6 feels like a return to form for one of gaming’s most diverse and explosive first-person shooters. The team delivered a gripping campaign full of political intrigue, great characters and enough “only in Battlefield” moments to last us until the next one. But for me, its strongest asset is its multiplayer, low map count aside there are modes here to tickle any shooters fancy. I loved this game so much, in my last match before getting off to write this review I just had the biggest grin on my face as I turn a failed helicopter flight into a parachute landing and a quad kill AND point capture. Only in Battlefield, indeed.
Earthion is a stellar shooter that not only captures the heart of Genesis shooters, but brings the genre forward with stellar visuals, interesting mechanics, and a soundtrack that I could blast on repeat. I love that we live in a world where a game like this can exist. If you grew up loving titles like Hellfire, Truxton, and Musha, this is definitely a game for you. I cannot recommend it enough.
If you admire The Long Dark but bounced off its punishing survival mechanics, Arctic Awakening might hit the sweet spot. It’s a game that feels like spending a weekend in the cold; you won’t stay forever, but while you’re there, it’s an experience worth having.
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If you’re a shmup fan, this is an easy recommendation. If you’re curious but hesitant, prepare for pain—but maybe the good kind. And if you just want something flashy to show off your Series X, well… this ain’t it.
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Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny more than likely won’t compete with the likes of Diablo or Path of Exile, but it doesn’t need to. Its goal is smaller and more focused: to give Nickelodeon characters a new stage to play on while delivering a lighthearted RPG that works for both kids and nostalgic adults. On that front, it rolls a nat’ 20!
As you push into tougher runs, the game leans more on your unlocked strength than clever tactics. Sometimes you’ll find you survived more through upgraded stats than actual skill or planning. There are boss fights, and those can hit hard; but a lot of the grind feels like you have to pile on upgrades just to not get steamrolled, rather than learning new strategies.
Ghost of Yōtei is another outstanding achievement by the team at Sucker Punch. While I didn’t love it as much as its predecessor, it is still one of the best games to launch this year. Sony continues to push the envelope when it comes to single player experiences. I just wish they would step outside of the template more often. This game hits all the notes I expected, for better or worse, and it suffered at times because of it. It rarely disappointed me, but it also rarely blew my socks off. I wanted to love it more, but it just played some parts too safe to make it stand out.
Echoes of the End won’t be for everyone. If you need endless sidequests, checklists, or high-octane action around every corner, this might feel too subdued. But if you appreciate a more deliberate pace, strong presentation, and a story that respects your time, it’s worth diving into. At the end of the day, it’s not a perfect package, but it’s a memorable one. And during a time where there are more games than we have hours in a day; that may be Echoes of the End greatest strength.
Firefighting Simulator: Ignite isn’t going to be for everyone. If you come looking for high-octane action, you’ll probably bounce off quickly. But if you’re patient and willing to embrace its deliberate pacing, there’s a rewarding experience here. It’s niche, no doubt, but it’s a niche worth exploring.